Grantham picks Tigers (UPDATED)

Friday

Oct 4, 2013 at 10:17 AM

Phil Kornblut

Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell Friday landed perhaps the most highly touted recruit of his time with the Tigers in 6-8 Donte Grantham of Hargrave Prep, VA. Grantham chose the Tigers over Michigan. Both coaching staffs were in this week to see him. Grantham visited Clemson unofficially last Saturday. He made an official visit to Michigan in early September. “I knew Clemson is where I wanted to go earlier this week,” Grantham said. “When I came back home from my visit on Sunday, I sat down and thought about it and on Monday I knew that Clemson is where I wanted to go. I was in Clemson for an unofficial visit last week. It was great. I went to the football game and it was really cool. I had a lot of fun.” Grantham is a West Virginia native and was that state's player of the year last year. He made an official visit to Clemson last spring and the Tigers had been hard after him ever since. “I just love everything about it. It's just family up at Clemson,” Grantham said. “I love the atmosphere. I love the coaches. I just love everything about Clemson. Clemson has also been there since day one and that means a lot to me. Also, playing in the ACC is something that I've always dreamed about. Playing in the ACC is second to none.” Grantham averaged 18 points and 9 rebounds per game last season. “He's an excellent shooter,” said Hargarve coach AW Hamilton. “He's very skilled. And he handles and passes the ball well.” Hamilton added that the year of experience at the prep school will benefit Grantham once he gets to Clemson. "He's an older kid, a post graduate this year, so he'll be the age of a sophomore next year. He's playing with a bunch of guys around him who are super talented so he's going to get pushed daily. I think he'll be ready to step in and help that program. He's a tremendous passer and a great teammate." Grantham also considered Cincinnati and West Virginia in his final group. He is Clemson's second commitment for the 2014 class.